Charles Dickens' classic holiday tale of one man learning the true meaning of Christmas is brought to the screen once again in this made-for-TV movie. Ebenezer Scrooge (George C. Scott) is a cynical old man whose greatest concern is money, and who regards compassion as a luxury he can't afford. On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Jacob Marley (Frank Finlay), his former business partner, who arranges for Scrooge to be visited by three spirits in an attempt to show him the error of his ways -- the Ghosts of Christmas Past (Angela Pleasence), Christmas Present (Edward Woodward), and Christmas Yet to Come (Michael Carter). The spirits force Scrooge to examine the failings of his own life, as well as the bravery and optimism of his loyal but ill-treated employee Bob Crachit (David Warner). A Christmas Carol also features Susannah York as Mrs. Crachit, Anthony Walters as Tiny Tim, and Joanne Whalley as Fan. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is one of the most filmed stories in the history of cinema, so saying that Clive Donner's 1984 version is one of the best out there is no small bit of praise. Donner's interpretation has a Masterpiece Theater quality that permeates all aspects of the production, with George C. Scott setting the standard in the central role. Scott brings a thespian's commitment and a highly intellectual tone to the proceedings, making clear that Ebenezer Scrooge's disdain for Christmas springs from a place of logic and premeditation, not just reactionary negativity. Scrooge's disposition is not nearly so chilling when the actor and director choose to blame it on meanness only; the courage of his convictions is what makes Scrooge so dastardly. His joy in the final scene is therefore that much more cathartic, having been dug up from such a deep place. David Warner, a villain in such films as Tron and Time Bandits, turns out to be an excellent Bob Cratchit, and Edward Woodward is particularly memorable as a booming Ghost of Christmas Present, accounting for much of the film's humor. The grim reaper effects are sufficiently creepy, and Donner's film has a good period authenticity in its look as well. This A Christmas Carol is distinctive and enduring enough that one tends to forget it was originally made for television, and those origins don't undermine its credibility in the slightest. Truth be told, by 1984, the story had been told so many times, straightforward versions had stopped getting theatrical releases. Only modern updates like the Bill Murray vehicle Scrooged still found their way to the multiplexes. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
Peter Childs - Art Director, Noel Davis - Casting, Clive Donner - Director, Peter Tanner - Editor, Nick Bicat - Composer (Music Score), Tony Imi - Cinematographer, Roger O. Hirson - Screenwriter, Charles Dickens - Book Author
In the Victorian period, Ebenezer Scrooge is a cynical and embittered old man whose greatest concern is money, and who regards compassion as a luxury he cannot afford. On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Jacob Marley, his former business partner, who arranges for Scrooge to be visited by three spirits in an attempt to show him the errors of his ways — the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come. The spirits force Scrooge to examine the failings of his own life, as well as the bravery and optimism of his loyal but ill-treated employee Bob Cratchit. Scrooge reforms, learning to keep the spirit of Christmas alive in his heart, ultimately becoming a well-loved and respected man
Cast
Replica tombstone from the 1984 movie, still in situ at St.Chad's churchyard, Shrewsbury, 2008
The movie was filmed on location in Shrewsbury, England. It originally aired on CBS on December 17, 1984 in the United States but was released theatrically in Great Britain. The film was marketed with the tagline "A new powerful presentation of the most loved ghost story of all time!" Scott was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special for his portrayal in A Christmas Carol.
The movie has run in syndication on local American channels since it debuted in 1984, earning a loyal fanbase, but was not released to VHS until 1995 and to DVD in 1999. This was due to the fact that Scott himself (and later his estate through Baxter Healthcare, to whom the Scott family donated their copyright) owned the rights to this film. On November 25, 2007 it returned to national television on AMC for the first time since its debut. The network ran the movie throughout the Christmas season. AMC also ran the movie throughout the 2008 Christmas season. In 2009, the Hallmark Channel also began running the movie soon after Thanksgiving and will continue to throughout the holiday season. It remains one of the most beloved adaptations of A Christmas Carol.
Liz Smith who plays Mrs. Dilber played the same role in the 1999 version starring Patrick Stewart.
Two of Susannah York's real-life children portrayed two of the Cratchit children on-screen.
This is, perhaps, the only version of A Christmas Carol in which Scrooge wears trousers, shirt and a vest (with a period correct dressing gown over them) instead of merely his nightgown, slippers and cap. (Rumor has it that George C. Scott openly reeled at the very thought of portraying Scrooge under such conditions...especially in mid-winter England.) Scott's costume agrees with Dicken's description in the novel.
One historical inaccuracy: During Ghost of Christmas Past parts where Scrooge is shown his childhood, the people in his childhood are dressed in the same era clothing as Scrooge the old adult - as if between around the late 1700s(where one can guess chronologically an 1840's senior was a boy)and present dress and fashion was always in the 1840s.
